Israel, which is China's second leading arms supplier after Russia, has for the second time in less than a year sought to improve its military logistics cooperation with China, its largest arms customer in Asia.

Major General Aharon Haliva, head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and his delegation on Feb. 20 met with General Zhao Keshi, a member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) and Director of the Logistic Support Department under the CMC.

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It is the second meeting since March 2016 between the heads of the logistics units of the IDF and the PLA. Gen. Zhao also met with his Israeli counterpart in 2014.

CMC is the Communist Party of China political organization that controls the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Its Chairman is Chinese president Xi Jinping..

At the event welcoming General Haliva and his delegation, Gen. Zhao said the Chinese and the Jewish peoples are both great peoples with time-honored exchanges. He said China's "Silk Road" connects the two peoples closely.

He noted both the Chinese and the Jews underwent great suffering during World War II, and they "shared weal and woe with each other, with profound friendship established."

Gen. Zhao briefed the Israeli delegation on China's national defense and military reform situations.

He reviewed his visit to Israel in 2016 and said relations between the two militaries have been developing smoothly. He noted the constantly deepened exchanges in various fields, especially in logistics that has witnessed frequent communications and fruitful and practical cooperation.

He hoped both China and Israel can continue expanding their communication and cooperation channels to elevate the logistical ties between them to a new level, and instill new connotation to the development of the bilateral military relations.

For his part, Gen. Haliva said Israeli attaches great importance to the development of friendship between Israel and China.

He said Israel is willing to enhance communications and cooperation in various logistical fields with the PLA, and share logistical reform and development experience to improve their respective logistical support abilities.

Military cooperation between Israel and China has infuriated the United States at various times. The U.S. believes this cooperation has gone too far on occasion and six years ago pointed to China's Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter as being an almost exact clone of Israel's IAI Lavi multirole fighter.

TagsIsrael, china, arms supplier, Russia, Major General Aharon Haliva, General Zhao Keshi, Central Military Commission, Jews